Notes

Writing for school- hero essay

I recall a time in which a large family in a Walmart parking lot inadvertently locked their very young child and sleeping baby in the car with the car key. Being quite young, the child didn’t know how to unlock the car and grew panicked as his family crowded around the SUV, banging on the windows to keep the baby awake and also trying to explain to the panicking child how to unlock the car. As my family and I passed by this spectacle, which had already attracted a few passing shoppers who were lending their assistance, I remember willing my parents not to stop. Nevertheless, they did, and with more or less the combined effort of the family and the good samaritans, their car was unlocked in time. The tearful child was embraced by his family as my own quietly walked off, resuming our day. My own family acted heroically, going out of their way to assist strangers for which they would receive no praise. Therefore, I conclude, heroism is characterized by one, two, or all of the following qualities: acting when you think someone else will, when you are fearful, when you believe you are not good enough to help, that your efforts are not contributable to a great enough extent, when you are going out of your way, or when you expect discomfort. It is all the putting aside of an essence of one’s self for another, a crescendo of perseverance, bravery, inspiration, etc.

The process of thinking like a hero can be along the following lines: you see a situation in which help is needed, or you could initiate something which will have a positive impact (for example, being the one to sit by a new student who doesn’t have any friends). You could allow someone else to do it and let yourself remain unprompted and therefore stagnant, but you pick yourself up by your bootstraps and get to it. Why? What if you’re bombarded by impairments to heroism, such as the notions of herd mentality or thoughts like someone is already there, you’d be going out of your way, you might embarrass yourself, or you’re just too busy today? You aren’t thinking of that or you have the inner strength to set those barricades aside to make a positive impact in this world. Going back to the new student example, imagine seeing him or her, let’s say her, at a lunch table by himself. Everyone acts as if she is not there, passing bodies and uncaring eyes. A symphony is going on in this lunchroom and she feels like a wrong note. You should never judge a book by its cover. Perhaps her clothes are a little too small, she isn’t that attractive, or she hides behind a guise of accepted isolation, pretending to text on her phone. You go over there and ask if it’s okay if you sit there. She shrugs, and you join her, and by the end of the lunch period she is smiling. Examining the series of events, first, you saw her. You thought you should sit with her but then that someone else could, and that you have your own friends waiting for you. You put aside this impairment to heroism though and nevertheless approached her, demonstrating leadership and bravery. Her responsive shrug and consequent initial iciness at your attempts at conversation could have led you to walk off. However, you demonstrated perseverance and kept talking to her, causing her to eventually laugh. Although this is not always the case, she was just shy and did want a friend. This you would not have none if you did not stick with it, and thus heroism is “pick yourself up by your bootstraps.”

The feral cats, contained in a separate room from the other felines, were hesitant of the volunteer at first, inching away from his outstretched hand, some emitting a gutural warning murrr or others outright hissing. The volunteer knew that the feral cats would be euthanized if they were not made adoptable. Each week he returned to the ferals, first sitting cross-legged on the linoleum floor of their enclosure, another week slowly, steadily moving his arm to extend to a cat who stopped in front of him. Finally, on the fifth or sixth habitual visit, he made first contact. And after that, the ice seemed to shatter and the previously ferocious cats softened to him. True, some of the felines who had not yet, but there were some, several, who appreciatively let him pet them, to scratch the welcoming sides of their faces, and he saw in their eyes that they trusted him. A silent victory achieved, the volunteer stooped among pawed feet, he was a hero. He informed the staff of his success, who had told him that they were a lost cause, and that they could be made adoptable cats through gentle love and patience. He argued that every animal deserves a chance. Reluctantly, the staff agreed, who too wanted the best for every animal but were stretched thin on resources, and they allowed him to lead a program in which he taught other volunteers on how to acclimate ferals. Soon, feral cats were transitioning from the feral room to the regular cat room.They were given an opportunity to find homes that they would not have had without the work of that one volunteer, of whom valiantly demonstrated heroism by his determination, patience, and willingness to help others. The volunteer put aside his other preoccupations or desires to stay home to be a hero. He was even scared of the ferals at first but was careful and gave them a chance, acting as a true hero.

There are lines in defining a heroic act. Heroes should not primarily act out of receiving praise for their good deeds. If a supposed “hero” has an ulterior motive of receiving praise, such as a person helping an elderly man woman cross the street because they know their romantic interest is watching them, their heroic act is invalid in the eyes of the Universe. If you contrast this to another instance of pure heroism, such as someone doing the same thing only because the elderly woman needed help, the latter would be the heroic deed. One may argue that the value of the former act is still a net positive, which I will concede, but that does not make the person a hero. If you had telepathy and could read their thoughts you would not want them to be in the papers for wanting to impress their crush. Therefore, the “crescendo of perseverance, bravery, inspiration, etc.,” which I mentioned in the beginning also include integrity as a possible underlying characteristic of heroism.

In conclusion, heroism is connected to certain qualities which can help describe and explain it. Heroism is going out of your way to help someone, but it is also a lot of other things. It is putting aside your fear, and, frankly, simply other roadblocks. Heroism is a complex thing but it is present in everyday actions.